Napping-machine.



4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Patented June 6, 1916.

Md 0601a T s. PATTERSON.

NAPPING MACHINE APPLICATION FILED MAY|7| 9H1. ,431,

T.S..PATTERSON.

NAPPING MACHINE APPLICATION FILED MAY 17. 1913.

Patented J une 6, 1916. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

T. S. PATTERSON.

NAPPTNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYII. ma.

1 ,1 86,43 1 Patented Shine 6, 1916.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

V Lwerdor 17mm $.Faificnsom T. S. PATTERSON.

NAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYI7.1913- Patented June 6, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS S. PATTERSON, 0F ROSEMONT, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 CLARENCE E. WILSON, 0F BRYN MAWR, PENNSYLVANIA.

NAIPING-MACHIN E.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS S. PATTER- SON, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland and the Isle of Man, residing in Rosemont, county of Montgomery, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Napping-lifachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in machines'for raising the nap on fabrics and particularly blankets which have been washed.

One object of the invention is to construct a machine particularly adapted for use in laundries, which will properly raise the nap on both surfaces of the fabric as it passes through the machine. 7 V

A further object of the invention is to provide means for raising the nap on each face, first inone direction and then in the other direction so that, after a blanket has passed through the machine, the nap is evenly raised on both surfaces of the blanket or other fabric.

A still further object of the invention is to stretch the blanket as it is fed to the machine so that it will be in proper condition after it leaves the machine.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a front view of my improved napping machine; Fig. 1 is a view of the driving shaft, being a continuation ofFig. 1; Fig. 2 is an end view of my improved machine; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line aa, Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line bb, Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a side view of one of the clamps.

Referring to the drawings, 11 are the side frames of the machine connected together and braced in any suitable manner. These side'frames support the bearings for the several shafts.

2 is the main cylinder, which is clothed with card clothing 3 in which the teeth are turned, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 so that the fabric will be fed by the back of the teeth, but when the nap is being raised by the mechanism described hereinafter, then these teeth act to hold the fabric during the napping process.

4 is an inclined platform at the front of the machine on which the blanket is spread, and preferably stretched, and over which the blanket is fed into the machine. Directly above the platform 4 is a spreader 9,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1916. Serial No. 768,249. I

which properly spreads and stretches the blanket on the platform before the first feed 7 projecting, as shown, so that the Wheel will engage the fabric and will feed it positively forward into the space between. the second feed roll 7 and the cylinder 2. This second feed roll has card clothing 8 with the teeth bent in the same direction as the teeth of the roll 5 so as to continue the feeding of the fabric over the cylinder 2. The teeth of the drum merely act to hold the cloth in positive engagement with the teeth of the. second feed roll and also act, as before stated, to prevent the napping mechanism from feeding the blanket at a greater speed than the feed mechanism will allow.

= Arplain roll 48 is located so as to hold the fabric onto the cylinder 2 after its leaves the feed roll- 7.- 1

10 is the first feeding and napping cylinder and 11 is the second feeding and napping cylinder. The cylinder 10 has card clothing 12 thereon with the teeth turned, as indicated, to engage the nap on one side of a blanket and to raise the nap as the blanket is fed through the machine. The cylinder 11 has card clothing 13 with teeth turned in the same direction as'the teeth 12 and willraise the nap on the opposite side of the fabric.

:TllBSB twocylinders only raise the nap in one direction. I mount two counterbalanced segments 14 and 15, one on one side of the line of travel of the fabric and the otheron the opposite side.- The segment 14 has card clothing 16 with the teeth turned toward the feed cylinders and the segment 15 has card clothing 17 with the teeth turned'in the same direction and it will be seen thatas the blanket, for instance, is fed forward through the machine the card clothing on the segments Hand .15 raises the nap on both sides of the fabric in one direction and as the blanket passes the cylinders 10 and 11, which rotateat a greater speed than the travel of the blanket through the machine, the nap is raised in the opposite direction to that in which it was raised by the segments 14 and 15. Consequently, when. the.

blanket is delivered from the machine, the nap is properly raised on both sides thereof.

It will be understood that any suitable mechanism may be used for imparting movement to the several. elements, as the main object of the invention is to provide a machine in which a blanket or other fabric will be fed therethrough at a given speed, and the nap on the fabric will be raised first in one direction and then in the opposite direction.

In order to disengage the fabric from the teeth of the cylinder. 2 I provide guards 18 which are in the form of wires, in the present instance, arranged to enter the spaces at intervals between the teeth. These guards are secured to blocks 19 carried on a bar 20, adjustably mounted in a slot 21 in the side frames 1. I also show guards 22 spaced a given. distance apart and arranged to move the fabric away from the cylinder 10. These guards are similar to the guards 18 and are mounted on blocks 23 secured to a bar 2 1, which is adjustably mounted in a slot 25 in the frame 1.

Below the cylinder 11 is a heater 26 consisting of a shaft 27 on which are blades 28. This beater is driven from the shaft 29 of the cylinder 11 by a chain 30 which passes around sprocket wheels on the said shafts so-that as the shaft 29 is rotated, a rotating motion will be imparted to the beater which acts to force the fabric from engagement with the teeth of the cylinder 11 as it passes through the machine. In some instances, heaters may be substituted for the guards 22 and 18, or guards may be substituted for the heaters without departing from the essential features of the invention.

The spreader 9 is mounted on a cross bar 31 extending over the platform 4 and adapted to bearings 32 at each edge of the platform. Adjustably mounted on the bar are sleeves 33, which can be clamped thereto and held in the position to which they are adjusted Pivotally hung from the sleeves 33 are diagonally arranged arms 34, which are connected together by a pivot pin 35. The arms 34 are T-shaped in cross section and the broad portion of each arm rests directly above the platform so that when a blanket is located on the platform under the arms, the weight of the spreader and the diagonal arrangement of the arms spreads the blanket evenly over the platform and it enters the machine in an unwrinkle-d condition. I may provide means for stretching the blanket on the platform before it enters the machine and clamps may be used to hold the stretched fabric and may be made adjustable as described hereinafter.

In the present instance, the mechanism is driven as follows: Mounted on bracket 35, projecting from one of the side frames, are the bearings 36 for the driving shaft 37 having fast and loose pulleys as illustrated in Fig. l On the shaft 37 is a pinion 10 which meshes with a gear wheel 41 onthe main driven shaft 12 on which is mounted the cylinder 2. The shaft is adapted to bearings in a standard 13 projecting from the bracket 35 and is also mounted in bearings it l on the side frames 1.

On the shaft $2 is a gear wheel 15 which meshes with a pinion as on a shaft 17 adapted to suitable bearings on extensions 69 of the main frame of the machine, and carrying the plain roll 18. A gear wheel 4:9 is mounted on the shaft 17 and meshes with an intermediate gear wheel on a shaft 51 mounted in boxes 52 arranged to slide in slots in the frame 53. The gear wheel 50 meshes, in turn, with a gear wheel 5 1 on the shaft carrying the roller 7. The shaft 55 is adapted to boxes 56 arranged to slide in slots 58 in the frame 53. Each box 56 is held in position by a spring 59 mounted between a set screw 60 and its box so that while the roller 71s pressed forward by the springs, it can yield when necessary. Mounted on a shaft 61 is a gear wheel 62 which meshes with the gear wheel 51 on the shaft The shaft 61 is mounted in boxes 63 arranged to slide in slots 6-1 in said frames 53. The gear wheel 62, in turn, meshes with a gear wheel 65 on the shaft 66 carrying the first feed roll 5, which is mounted in fixed hearings in the frames In order to allow the second feed roll 7 to yield without jamming the gear wheels 49 and 62, I connect the shaft 55 to the shafts 51 and 61 by arms 67 and 68 respectively, so that as the shaft 55 yields, it will cause the boxes 52 and 63 to move in their slots.

The shaft 47 acts as the pivot for the frames 53 which are connected together by the shafts so that they can be turned up in unison to allow the fabric to be adjusted thereon. Any suitable mechanism may be used for turning the frames 53 on their pivots. In the present instance, I have shown levers 7 0 pivoted at 71 to the main frame. The long arms of these levers are connected together by a bar 72 and the short armof each lever is connected by a link 7 3 to one of the frames 53 so that on turning the lever on its pivot, the whole frame structure can be raised or lowered.

The segment 14: extends full width of the cylinders 10 and 11 and is secured to the arms 74 mounted on a shaft 75 adapted to bearings adjustably mounted in a slot 76 in the frames 1. On each arm. 1 is a rear extension 77 having an adjustable weight 78 which is arranged tobalance the segments.

The segment 15 is carried by arms 79, which are mounted on a shaft 80 adapted to bearings adjustably mounted in a slot 81 in the frames 1 and on each arm 79 is a 38 and 39 thereon,

, to yield and to engage the nap without breaking the fibers, which might occur if the segments were positively reciprocated or rotated.

The cylinder 10 is carried by a shaft 84 mounted in bearings 85 adjustable in the slot 86 in the frames 1. On one end of the shaft 84 is abevel wheel 87 which meshes with a bevel wheel 88 on a diagonal shaft 89 in a bearing 90, projecting from one of the side frames 1. At the upper end of the shaft 89 is a bevel pinion 91, which meshes with a bevel gear wheel 92 secured to the shaft 12 so that the shaft 84: is positively driven from the shaft 42 through the diagonal shaft 89.

The shaft 29, on which the cylinder, 11 is mounted, is driven from the shaft 42 by a chain belt 93, in the present instance, which passes around a sprocket wheel 94 on the shaft 42 and around a sprocket wheel 95 on the shaft 29, so that the shaft 29 is positively driven by the belt 93. The two shafts St and 29 are preferably driven at the same speed and the speed is such that the portion of the'blanket, or other fabric, between the cylinders 10 and 11 and the feed cylinder 2, will be held taut by the action of the cylinders so that the segments will properly comb the fibers as the fabric passes them.

The clamp which I prefer to use to stretch the blanket, or other fabric, is shown in Fig. 5 and consists ofa presser plate 96 011 a spindle adapted to a frame 97 on which is a coiled spring 98 for raising the plate. A cam lever 99 is used to force the plate onto the fabric. The frame has a T-head 100 adapted to a slot 101 in the platform 4 so that when the head is passed through the slot and the frame turned, the frame will be locked to the platform. There are a series of slots 101 on the platform so that the clamps can be adjustedto stretch blankets differing in size.

I preferably provide two clamps at the upper edge of the platform and one of these clamps is adjustable with respect to B the other. I may locate clamps at the lower edge of the platform if it is found desirable to hold the blanket at four points prior to adjusting the spreader and the feed rolls.

In the present instance, I have located a table 102 at the rear of the machine directly back of the cylinder 10' so that fringe at the edge of fabrics can be combed out by placing the fabric on the table and all0wing the fringe to be engaged by the clothing of the said cylinders.

the nap on both sides The operation is as follows: A blanket, for instance, after being cleansed, is passed through the machine, preferably in a damp condition in order that the nap may be raised on both sides thereof, and after the nap is raised the blanket is suspended until dry. Prior to placing the blanket on the platform the frame carrying the feed rolls is raised. The spreader is also lifted and the two clamps are adjusted to accommodate a blanket of a given size. One upper corner of the blanket is secured by a clamp and the blanket is then stretched and engaged by a clamp at the opposite corner, after which the frame and the spreader are lowered; the spreader resting on the surface of the blanket and the first feed roll engaging the fabric. The clamps are then raised to release the blanket and the machine set in motion. 7

The two segments 14 and 15 are turned out of the path of the blanket so that it can fall by gravity between the napping cylinders 10 and 11, the teeth of which engage the blanket and stretch it, as the napping cylinders revolve at a greater speed than the feed cylinder 2. The segments are then turned so that the teeth engage the nap of the blanket. As the blanket is fed through the machine the segments comb the nap on both sides of the blanket in one direction and as it passes between the cylinders 10 and 11 the nap is combed in the opposite direc- The cylinder 2 positively feeds the tion. blanket through the machine and holds it against the act-ion of the teeth on the napping cylinders so that while these cylinders tend-to feed the blanket and to place tension thereon to allow the segments to comb the nap, they cannot feed the blanket at a greater speed than the surface speed of the feed cylinder 2. The blanket is stripped from the cylinder 2 by the fingers 18 and from the cylinder 10 by the fingers 22 while the heaters force the blanket out of engagement with the cylinder 11. After the blanket passes through the machine. it is suspended and dried and the nap will be evenly raised on both sides thereof and will have the soft finish common to blankets before being laundried.

While the invention is particularly adapted for raising the nap on a laundried blanket, it can be used for raising the nap on one or both sides of any fabric.

I claim:

1. The combination in a. napping machine, of a feed roll and a feed cylinder for feeding the fabric through the machine; two napping cylinders having teeth thereon bent in the same direction for engaging and raising of the fabric; and means intermediate the napping cylinders and the feed cylinder having teeth arranged in a'direction opposite the teeth on the nap-' ping cylinders and located one on one side of the line of the fabric and one on the opposite side thereof, which also act to raise the nap on the fabric.

The combination in a napping machine, of means for feeding the fabric; a rotating napping cylinder having teeth arranged in one. direction; a stationary toothed segment located between the napping cylinder'and the feed mechanism andv having teeth arranged in a direction. opposite to the direction of the'tecth of the napping cylinder and engaging the nap of the fabric; and means for allowing the said segment to yield.v

3. The combination in a napping machine, of means for feeding the fabric; a napping cylinder; segments having card clothing thereon forming teeth for engaging the nap of the fabric; counterbalanced arms carrying the segment; and a pivot for said arms so that as the fabric is fed through the ma-- chine, the nap will be engaged by the teeth on the segments and will. be raised in one direction.

at. The combination in a napping machine, of feed mechanism for feeding the fabric through the machine; two cylinders having card clothing thereon and arranged to engage the nap of the fabric to raise it in one direction; means for driving the said cylinders at a greater speed than the feed mechanism so as to apply tension to the fabric between the feed mechanism and the cylinders; and napping mechanism located between the feed mechanism and the napping cylinders having teeth extending in the opposite direction from. that of the cylinders so that, as the fabric passes the napping mechanism, the nap will be raised in one direction and when it passes the cylinders the nap will be raised in the opposite direction.

5. The combination in a napping machine, of a feed roll and a feed cylinder over which the fabric is passed so as to positively feed the fabric forward through the machine; two napping cylinders located beyond the feed cylinder and spaced apart to allow the fabric to passbetw'een them, each napping cylinder having card clothing thereon; these napping cylinders being driven at a greater speed than the feed cylinder; and. two segments, one located on one side of the fabric and the other on the opposite side, each segment being pivotally mounted and having card clothing thereon; the teeth be ing arranged in an opposite direction from the teeth on the napping cylinders.

6. The combination in a napping machine, of a feed cylinder having card clothing thereon, the teeth extending rearwardly; a frame pivotally mounted on the main frame of the machine so that it can be turned on its pivot; a driven feed roll carried by the frame and located in close proximity to the feed cylinder so that when the frame is in its normal position the fabric will be engaged by the roll and by the teeth of the cylinder; and means for napping the fabric after it leaves the feed cylinder, the teeth of the feed cylinder holding the fabric against the action of the napping means.

7. The combination in a napping ina chine, of side frames; a shaft; a feed cylinder mounted on the shaft and having card clothing thereon; a feed roll also having card clothing and yieldingly mounted on the frame, the teeth of the card clothing on. the feed cylinder being inclined rearwardly and the teeth of the card clothing on the feed roll being inclined in the direction of movement of the fabric; and means beyond the feed cylinder for raising the nap on both sides of the fabric as it passes through the machine.

8. The combination in a napping machine, of side frames; a shaft mounted therein; a feed cylinder mounted on the shaft and having card clothing thereon; an inclined platform located at the front of the machine; two feed rolls; means for driving said rolls; each of said rolls having card clothing one being mounted above the platform and the otherabove the feed cylinder, the teeth on the feed cylinder being so arranged as to prevent-the movement of the fabric at a greater speed than the surface speed of said cylinder; a rotating napping cylinder having teeth thereon and arranged to engage the nap on the fabric beyond the feed cylinder, and intermediate napping mechanism having teeth arranged in a direction opposite to the teeth of the napping cylinder so as to raise the nap as the fabric passes through the mechanism.

9. The combination in anapping machine, of a platform on which the fabric is placed;

a feed cylinder over which the fabric is passed; card clothing on said cylinder; 11a teeth arranged to prevent the fabric from moving more rapidly than thesurface speed.

of the cylinder; a pivotally mounted. frame; means for raising and lowering the frame; feed rolls carried by theframe; gearingby which the feed rolls are driven from the main shaft, one of said rollsbeing yieldingly mounted in. the bearings; and two oppositely disposed cylinders having card clothing thereon and driven at a greater speed than the feed mechanism to raise the nap on the fabric as it passes through the machine.

10. The combination in a napping machine, of a feed cylinder; teeth thereon; a feed roll acting in conjunction with the cylinder to feed the fabric through the machine; means for raising the nap on the fabric; a platform in front of the machine; a bar extending across the upper end of the platform; a V-shaped spreader having two arms pivotally connected at their lower ends, each frame being adj ustably mounted on the bar; and a spreader acting to spread the fabric on-the platform before it is engaged by the feeding mechanism.

11. The combination in a napping machine, of a feed cylinder; a feed roll having teeth arranged to engage and feed a fabric through the machine; means located beyond the feed roll for napping the fabric; an inclined platform located in front of the machine; a bar extending across the upper portion of the platform; two sleeves adjustably mounted on the bar; means for retaining the sleeves in the position to which they are adjusted; and a spreader consisting of two arms pivotally connected, one arm being pivotally attached to one sleeve and the other arm being pivotally attached to the other sleeve so that the Width of the spreader can be varied by adjusting the sleeves 0n the bar.

12. The combination in a napping machine, of two side frames; a driven shaft mounted in bearings in the upper portion of the frame; a feed cylmder having teeth thereon and secured to the driven shaft; a

pivotally mounted frame located above the feed cylinder and having two feed rolls, one yieldingly mounted in said frame; means for raising and lowering the said frame; two napping cylinders having teeth; a shaft on which the napping cylinders are mounted;' bearings for each shaft, the frames being slotted for the bearings; two segments, one located on one side of the line of the fabric and the other on the opposite side, each segment having card clothing thereon; arms carrying the segments; a shaft on which the arms are mounted; and

bearings for the shaft adjustably mounted in slots in the frame so that the segments can be adjusted with respect to the fabric.

13. The combination in a napping machine, of side frames; a driven shaft mounted therein; a feed cylinder mounted on the shaft; a feed roll acting in conjunction with the said cylinder to feed the fabric through the machine; a pivoted frame carrying the feed roll; a lever pivotally mounted on the main frame; a link connecting the lever with the pivoted frame so that, when the lever'is actuated, the pivoted frame is raised and lowered; and means, beyond the feeding mechanism, for raising the nap on the fabric.

14:. The combination in a machine for raising the nap on fabrics, of a platform; a pivotec tspreadeiilocated above theplatform a feed cylinder over which the fabric is passed; a pivoted frame; a feed roll mounted on the frame and acting in conjunction with the feed cylinder to feed the fabric through the machine; means for raising the nap on the fabric; and clamps at each upper edge of the platform for securing the blanket after being stretched on the platform and prior to being engaged by the feed roll.

15. The combination in a machine for raising the nap on fabrics, of a feed cylinder; an inclined platform in advance of the feed cylinder; a frame mounted above the feed cylinder; a feed roll carried thereby; a spreader located above the platform; a

clamp at the upper edge of the platform at one side; an adjustable clamp located on the opposite side of the upper edge of the platform for engaging the fabric after being stretched, the said clamps being so located that whenrthe frame is lowered the feed roll will engage the fabric so that the clamps can be released to allow the fabric to be fed in the machine; and means for raising the nap on the fabric.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS S. PATTERSON. WVitn'esses:

l/VM. A. BARR, J 0s. H. KLEIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner oi Patents,

Washington, D. G." e 

